Diocese of Charlotte Curriculum Day Meeting Minutes and Action Plan
What is Working – What is Not / Where are We – Where do We Want to Be?
Minutes: Please submit a summary of what was discussed in your subject area meetings focusing on what is working/not working related to your classroom, Common Core, NC Essential Standards, Religion Standards and other relevant curriculum issues. Include a summary of where your participants feel they are relative to implementation and adherence to standards in their schools and where they would like to be. When complete you may upload to your subject area page on the wiki or email to jdurrett@charlottediocese.org to be published on the Curriculum Day wiki at http://doccatholicschoolscurriculumday.wikispaces.com/ (due March 11, 2013).
The first point of discussion was how the results of ACRE are being used. Some teachers receive the results to review and this helps them to evaluate their teaching and make modifications; in some settings the teachers do not see the results of the test. One concern is that the definitions that the students are expected to know for the test are different from the definitions found in the approved texts that are being used by the schools. Teachers would like a copy of the test, or at least a resource with the vocabulary and the definitions that will be on the test so that they can teach the vocabulary appropriately. Another concern is that the test is given before teachers can cover all the material on the test; teachers requested that the test be given toward the end of the academic year.
The second point of discussion is that there is a feeling that the religion curriculum is lacking in depth, organization, and clarity. It was identified that the Raleigh Diocese has an effective model; teachers would like to see a well organized, detailed, and clear outline for the religion curriculum. This would enable teachers to more effectively align their teaching with the Common Core.
The third point of discussion identified many practices that are working well in the religion curriculum.
The use of online interactive games provided by various publishers highly engages students
Some teachers are scyping with the monks from Belmont Abbey when the curriculum addresses the consecrated religious life
One teacher incorporates a “pilgrimage” around campus that involves physical games to demonstrate theological and moral principles
Having students synthesize what they have learned about the psalms or prophesies by writing their own which is printed on attractive paper, made into a plaque, and displayed is effective
Engaging students in dramatizations such as a mock conclave highly engages students
Permitting students to choose their own topic of research from within the curriculum and allowing them to select an interactive venue to present what they learn highly engages students
Using visual resources such a video clips from YouTube highly engages students
Using “Fakebook” to have students create profiles of the Apostles or saints is effective
Using ‘Tweeter” as a venue for having students convey information from the curriculum is effective
Competitive and interactive games such as “Bible Quiz Bee” highly engages students
Where We Would Like to Be:
The consensus among the teachers is that we would like our schools to be more connected, to be teaching the same material, and to have more interaction between not only the staff members at the schools, but between students from the schools within the diocese. The connectedness and interaction directly correlates to the reality that the Church is a community.
Action Plan:Based on the “Where We Would Like to Be” summary from the Minutes above – provide an Action Plan that can be implemented immediately at the classroom level (feel free to add or attach more information as needed):
What should be done? There should be a greater sharing of ideas among religion teachers throughout the diocese. We will begin by uploading lessons and activities to a site where teachers can view, download, and modify lessons and activities. Teachers will communicate online through email and a designated site that will be created for this purpose. There should be opportunities for all teachers of religion to meet during professional days.
Who is responsible? Diane Buckley will speak with the HTCMS technology teachers to identify what would be the most effective online application to use to share materials and to dialogue. Once the venue is established, Diane will email the teachers who participated in the meetings and the teachers will begin to upload materials.
When should it be done by? The initial phase, discussion and identification of the most effective venue will be completed by March 15, 2012. The creation of a site will be completed by March 22, 2012
Other relevant notes: Since some schools were aware that there is a new religion curriculum that is expected to be delivered by the next academic year and some were not aware of this, it would seem appropriate that all teachers should receive more frequent communication and updates concerning the religion curriculum.
What is Working – What is Not / Where are We – Where do We Want to Be?
Minutes: Please submit a summary of what was discussed in your subject area meetings focusing on what is working/not working related to your classroom, Common Core, NC Essential Standards, Religion Standards and other relevant curriculum issues. Include a summary of where your participants feel they are relative to implementation and adherence to standards in their schools and where they would like to be. When complete you may upload to your subject area page on the wiki or email to jdurrett@charlottediocese.org to be published on the Curriculum Day wiki at http://doccatholicschoolscurriculumday.wikispaces.com/ (due March 11, 2013).
The first point of discussion was how the results of ACRE are being used. Some teachers receive the results to review and this helps them to evaluate their teaching and make modifications; in some settings the teachers do not see the results of the test. One concern is that the definitions that the students are expected to know for the test are different from the definitions found in the approved texts that are being used by the schools. Teachers would like a copy of the test, or at least a resource with the vocabulary and the definitions that will be on the test so that they can teach the vocabulary appropriately. Another concern is that the test is given before teachers can cover all the material on the test; teachers requested that the test be given toward the end of the academic year.
The second point of discussion is that there is a feeling that the religion curriculum is lacking in depth, organization, and clarity. It was identified that the Raleigh Diocese has an effective model; teachers would like to see a well organized, detailed, and clear outline for the religion curriculum. This would enable teachers to more effectively align their teaching with the Common Core.
The third point of discussion identified many practices that are working well in the religion curriculum.
Where We Would Like to Be:
The consensus among the teachers is that we would like our schools to be more connected, to be teaching the same material, and to have more interaction between not only the staff members at the schools, but between students from the schools within the diocese. The connectedness and interaction directly correlates to the reality that the Church is a community.
Action Plan:Based on the “Where We Would Like to Be” summary from the Minutes above – provide an Action Plan that can be implemented immediately at the classroom level (feel free to add or attach more information as needed):
What should be done?
There should be a greater sharing of ideas among religion teachers throughout the diocese. We will begin by uploading lessons and activities to a site where teachers can view, download, and modify lessons and activities. Teachers will communicate online through email and a designated site that will be created for this purpose. There should be opportunities for all teachers of religion to meet during professional days.
Who is responsible?
Diane Buckley will speak with the HTCMS technology teachers to identify what would be the most effective online application to use to share materials and to dialogue. Once the venue is established, Diane will email the teachers who participated in the meetings and the teachers will begin to upload materials.
When should it be done by?
The initial phase, discussion and identification of the most effective venue will be completed by March 15, 2012. The creation of a site will be completed by March 22, 2012
Other relevant notes:
Since some schools were aware that there is a new religion curriculum that is expected to be delivered by the next academic year and some were not aware of this, it would seem appropriate that all teachers should receive more frequent communication and updates concerning the religion curriculum.